Impersonal verbs - Easy Learning Grammar French

What is an impersonal verb?An impersonal verb is one that does not refer to a real person or thing and where the subject is represented by it, for example, It’s going to rain; It’s ten o’clock.

Impersonal verbs are only used with il (meaning it) and in the infinitive. They are called impersonal verbs because il does not really refer to a real person, animal or thing, just like it and there in English in the examples below.

Il pleut.

It’s raining.

Il va pleuvoir.

It’s going to rain.

Il y a un problème.

There’s a problem.

Il pourrait y avoir un problème.

There could be a problem.

There are also some very common verbs that can be used in this way in addition to their normal meanings, for example, avoir, être and faire.

Infinitive

Expression

Meaning

avoir + noun

il y a

there is (singular)there are (plural)

être + time

il est

it is

faire + noun

il fait jouril fait nuit

it’s daylightit’s dark

falloir + noun

il faut

we/you etc. need it takes

falloir + infinitive

il faut

we/you etc. have to

manquer

il manque

there is … missing (singular)there are … missing (plural)

paraître

il paraît que

it appears thatit seems that

rester + noun

il reste

there is … left (singular)there are … left (plural)

sembler

il semble que

it appears thatit seems that

valoir mieux + infinitive

il vaut mieux

it would be better to

Il y a quelqu’un à la porte.

There’s somebody at the door.

Il est deux heures.

It’s two o’clock.

Il faut partir.

I’ve/We’ve etc. got to go.

Il manque cent euros.

100 euros are missing.

Il reste du pain.

There’s some bread left.

Il vaut mieux ne rien dire.

It would be better to say nothing.

Several impersonal verbs relate to the weather.

Infinitive

Expression

Meaning

faire + adjective

il fait beauil fait mauvais

the weather’s lovelythe weather’s bad

faire + noun

il fait du ventil fait du soleil

it’s windyit’s sunny

geler

il gèle

it’s freezing

neiger

il neige

it’s snowing

pleuvoir

il pleut

it’s raining

Grammar Extra!There is another group of useful expressions that start with an impersonal il. These are followed by a form of the verb called the subjunctive.